Cardamom Bread

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 ounce active dry yeast
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 4 cups flour
• 1 egg, lightly beaten

Directions

1. Warm the milk in a small saucepan until it is lukewarm. Add the yeast to a large bowl, pour in the warm milk, and leave it undisturbed for 10 minutes. Whisk in the melted butter.
2. Add the sugar, salt, and cardamom, and whisk until everything is evenly mixed. Stir in the flour until the mixture comes together and the dough pulls cleanly from the bowl into a ball.
3. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead until it feels smooth and springy, 5 to 10 minutes. Drape a kitchen towel over it, set it somewhere warm, and let it rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
4. Press the dough down to push out the air. Knead it again for 5 minutes. For a plain loaf, form the dough into a round ball. Set it on a parchment-lined baking sheet, cover it with a dish towel, and let it rise for 30 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F. Paint the beaten egg over the top of the loaf. Bake until the bread is golden and the underside sounds hollow when tapped, about 25 minutes.